Netherlands finish off poor England

Hockey

England were taught a finishing lesson by the Netherlands in their last pool game in the European Junior Championships here yesterday, when they were beaten 4-2. England will now play Germany in tomorrow's semi-finals. Germany drew 3-3 in their last pool game with Spain, who will play the Dutch.

Once again it was the all-too-familiar failings of English squads, poor finishing and lapses of concentration, which allowed the Dutch to take control. A missed opportunity by England as early as the fifth minute became the pattern of the game.

A half-time reshuffle injected life into England's attack, with Alistair Boyse scoring when he followed up a penalty corner in the 44th minute. After wasting an earlier penalty stroke, which he hit straight at the goalkeeper, Mark Pearn redeemed himself in the 55th minute by finding the net.

ENGLAND: J Ebsworth (Teddington); K Reesby (Teddington), R Todd (Havant); J Evenett (Canterbury), R Taylor (Havant), Manpreet Kochar (Bournville); B Garrard (Surbiton, capt), D Matthews (Canterbury); S Humphreys (Canterbury), A Boyse (East Grinstead), M Pearn (Reading). Substitutes used: N Taylor (Havant), R Irvine (Teddington), J Collins (East Grinstead), L Hodges (Bournville), D Byfield (East Grinstead).

Results, Digest, page 27